IELTS Reading Yes No Not Given: Difference from True False

Quick Answer: Yes/No/Not Given questions ask about the writer's opinions or claims, while True/False/Not Given ask about factual statements directly stated in the passage. In Yes/No/Not Given, you decide if the writer agrees/ disagrees/ or gives no opinion. In True/False/Not Given, you check if a fact matches/ contradicts/ or is missing from the text. Always read the question carefully to know which type you face.

Table of Contents

What Are Yes/No/Not Given Questions?

What Are True/False/Not Given Questions?

The Key Difference – Fact vs. Opinion

Band Score Comparison Table

Sample Answers – Applying the Difference

Common Mistakes

Top Tips for Scoring High

FAQ – Yes/No/Not Given vs. True/False/Not Given

Key Takeaways

What Are Yes/No/Not Given Questions?

Yes/No/Not Given questions test your ability to understand the writer’s views or claims. The question asks you to decide:

Yes – The writer believes/agrees with the statement.

No – The writer criticizes/disagrees with the statement.

Not Given – The writer does not mention any opinion on that statement.

These questions appear in Section 3 of the Academic Reading test (or sometimes in General Training). They require you to interpret the author’s attitude, not just find a fact. For example:

Passage extract: “Many scientists argue that climate change is the greatest threat to biodiversity, but some believe that habitat loss is more urgent.”

Question: The writer believes that climate change is the most serious threat to biodiversity.

Answer: No – The writer reports that “many scientists argue” this, but does not state their own belief. Actually, the writer presents both views without agreeing with either, so it’s “No” because the writer does not take that position.

What Are True/False/Not Given Questions?

True/False/Not Given questions ask about factual information explicitly stated in the passage. Decide:

True – The statement exactly matches the information in the text.

False – The statement contradicts the information in the text.

Not Given – The information is not mentioned at all in the text.

These are the most common type in Sections 1 and 2 of the Academic test and in General Training sections. No opinion is involved – only facts. Example:

Passage extract: “The Amazon rainforest covers 5.5 million square kilometres.”

Question: The Amazon rainforest covers 5.5 million square kilometres.

Answer: True – exact match.

Question: The Amazon rainforest covers 6 million square kilometres.

Answer: False – contradicts the text.

Question: The Amazon rainforest is the largest in the world.

Answer: Not Given – the text does not compare it to other rainforests.

The Key Difference – Fact vs. Opinion

Aspect	Yes/No/Not Given	True/False/Not Given
What is tested	Can you identify the writer’s opinion or claim?	Can you identify factual information?
Language of question	Often includes “the writer suggests”, “according to the writer”, “the author argues”	Direct statements without attribution; “According to the text”, or just a plain statement
Answer logic	Even if a fact matches, if the writer does not agree with it, answer is No.	If a fact matches exactly, answer is True. If the writer says the opposite, answer is False.
Typical passage type	Argumentative or discursive texts (e.g., opinion pieces, research critiques)	Descriptive, expository, or narrative texts (e.g., history, biology, technology)
Trick	You might find a sentence that mentions the statement but the writer does not endorse it.	You might find a sentence that almost matches but contains a subtle difference (e.g., “some” vs “all”).

Critical rule: For Yes/No/Not Given, you must look for the writer’s stance – not just the presence of the words. For example:

Text: “The government claims that electric cars are the solution, but I believe they are only a temporary fix.”

Question: The writer thinks electric cars are the solution.

Answer: No – the writer says they are only a temporary fix.

Text: “Many researchers have concluded that electric cars reduce emissions.”

Question: The writer agrees that electric cars reduce emissions.

Answer: No – the writer reports others’ conclusions but does not state their own agreement.

Text: “In my view, electric cars are a promising development.”

Question: The writer is optimistic about electric cars.

Answer: Yes – the writer states their own positive view.

Band Score Comparison Table

Band	What the Examiner Expects
6	Can distinguish basic Yes/No/Not Given from True/False/Not Given but makes errors when opinions are indirectly expressed or when facts are paraphrased.
7	Consistently differentiates fact vs. opinion; correctly identifies “Yes” vs “No” when the writer explicitly agrees or disagrees; can handle moderate paraphrasing.
8	Handles subtle phrasing (e.g., “seems to suggest”, “appears to believe”); rarely confuses “Not Given” with “No/False” – understands absence of opinion vs. contrary opinion.
9	Flawlessly interprets implied opinions, multiple viewpoints, and nuanced language; never falls for traps like statements that are true but not endorsed by the writer.

Sample Answers – Applying the Difference

Band 7

Passage (short): “Although some historians claim that the Industrial Revolution improved living standards, I would argue that it caused more suffering than relief for the working class.” Question: The writer believes the Industrial Revolution improved living standards. Band 7 answer: No. The writer states “I would argue that it caused more suffering”, so they disagree with improving living standards. Why Band 7? The candidate correctly identifies the writer’s explicit opinion but might miss a more subtle phrasing like “seems to suggest”.

Band 8

Passage: “Critics of the new policy often point out its high cost, but the government maintains that long‐term savings will outweigh initial spending. Personally, I find the government’s argument unconvincing.” Question: The writer thinks the new policy will ultimately save money. Band 8 answer: No. While the government maintains it will save money, the writer says they find that argument unconvincing, implying disagreement. Why Band 8? Correctly interprets “unconvincing” as a negative opinion even though the government’s view is mentioned.

Band 9

Passage: “Many experts laud the innovation of vertical farms, noting their potential to reduce food miles. However, I remain skeptical whether the energy costs can ever be justified.” Question: The writer supports the idea of vertical farming as a sustainable solution. Band 9 answer: No. The writer says they “remain skeptical” about energy costs, indicating they do not support it unconditionally. Even though they acknowledge that “many experts laud” it, the writer’s own opinion is negative. Why Band 9? The candidate understands that reporting others’ positive views does not equal the writer’s own support; also handles the nuance of “skeptical” vs “support”.

Common Mistakes

❌Treating “Yes/No” as “True/False”: You see a statement that is mentioned in the text and automatically pick “True” (or “Yes”). But for Yes/No, the writer may not endorse it – then the answer is “No”.

❌Confusing “Not Given” with “No” or “False”: “Not Given” means the writer never talks about that idea. “No” means the writer explicitly disagrees. If the writer says nothing, it’s Not Given, not No.

❌Overthinking opinions: Sometimes the writer’s opinion is clear (e.g., “I strongly believe”). Don’t imagine hidden meanings. Stick to what is directly expressed.

❌Ignoring referral words: Phrases like “the author suggests”, “according to the writer” signal Yes/No/Not Given. If absent, it’s likely True/False/Not Given.

❌Using outside knowledge: Always base your answer solely on the passage, not on what you know about the topic. For Yes/No, do not assume the writer’s opinion matches common sense.

Top Tips for Scoring High

💡 Read the question first. Determine if it asks for a fact or an opinion. Look for keywords like “the writer”, “according to the author”, “the article suggests” – those mean Yes/No/Not Given. If none, it’s True/False/Not Given.

💡 Search for the writer’s exact words of agreement/disagreement. Verbs like “believe”, “argue”, “think”, “suggest”, “doubt”, “reject” help you identify stance. For True/False, look for factual synonyms.

💡 Distinguish between “not mentioned” and “not agreed”. Example: Text says “Some people think A is good.” Writer does not say what they think. Question: “The writer thinks A is good.” Answer: Not Given (no opinion) – NOT No (because they didn’t disagree; they just didn’t say).

💡 Practice with opinion-based texts. Read editorial articles or opinion pieces. Underline the writer’s claims. Then create your own Yes/No/Not Given questions to train your brain.

💡 Always check for qualifiers. Words like “many”, “some”, “often”, “usually” can change an answer from True to False or from Yes to No. For example: “All researchers agree” vs “Most researchers agree” – the writer’s opinion might differ.

Resources

Check out IELTS Active for practice tests that specifically mix True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given questions, plus full answer explanations.

FAQ

Q: How can I quickly tell if a question is Yes/No/Not Given or True/False/Not Given? A: Look at the statement itself. If it starts with “The writer believes” or “According to the author”, it’s Yes/No/Not Given. If it’s a plain factual statement (e.g., “The Amazon is 5.5 million sq km”), it’s True/False/Not Given. Sometimes the instruction at the top of the question section will also tell you. Q: Is there a difference in difficulty between the two question types? A: Many students find Yes/No/Not Given harder because it requires reading between the lines. But with practice, it becomes systematic. True/False/Not Given can be tricky due to paraphrasing and “same word” traps. Q: Can the writer give a “Yes” answer even if the statement is not 100% identical to the text? A: Yes. The writer might paraphrase their opinion. For example, text says “I am in favour of renewable energy” and question says “The writer supports renewable energy.” That’s a Yes. Q: What if the writer reports multiple views without stating their own? A: Then the answer is likely “Not Given” for any opinion question about the writer’s stance. You cannot infer the writer’s view just because they mention other people’s views. Q: Can a statement be both “False” and “No” in the same passage? A: No. The question type is fixed. For True/False/Not Given, “False” means the fact contradicts the passage. For Yes/No/Not Given, “No” means the writer disagrees. These are different concepts. You cannot mix them.

Key Takeaways

✅Yes/No/Not Given = Writer’s opinion. True/False/Not Given = factual accuracy.

✅For “Yes”, the writer must explicitly agree. “No” requires explicit disagreement. “Not Given” means the writer has no opinion on that point.

✅For “True”, the fact must be clearly stated. “False” if it contradicts. “Not Given” if absent.

✅Always read the instruction above the questions. It tells you which type you are dealing with.

✅Practice distinguishing “no opinion” from “disagreement.” This is the #1 source of errors.

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How to Identify the Writer’s Opinion in IELTS Reading